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CPS needs to get children out-of-harm’s way anytime there is possible merit to the accusation until it can be determined that the situation is safe.

Your use of the word “safe” is one of my challenges here. The word has no meaning without a qualifier. Driving around without a seat belt is considered by many to be unsafe. Yet we did it for decades. And riding around on a motorcycle without a helmet is considered unsafe, but you are “safe” if you wear a DOT approved helmet. Yet only a fool would consider it safe compared to riding in a car without a seat belt.

Subjective words need qualifiers. And that is the rub. This whole story is “subjective”. My neighbors live in a single wide that has a very well manicured lawn. But if you go inside, it LITERALLY looks like a garbage dump. I’m talking garbage stacked against the walls, etc. They also have a large hole in the living room floor covered by a 4x4 steel plate.

None of my business. The kids are fine, and are not beaten bloody. With freedom comes some tough decisions and consequences.

I prefer freedom over living in a clean zoo. Does that mean I have neighbors with a dumpy lifestyle? Yep. And they have that right as long as they don’t live in Singapore. And I have the right to place my home in a spot on my acreage where I don’t see that stuff.

Your use of the word “safe” is one of my challenges here. The word has no meaning without a qualifier.

No question that human judgement is involved. There is no way that a specific rule can be written for every situation which might arise. Anytime human judgement is involved, errors will be made. I can accept good faith errors even by the CPS as long as the errors are good faith errors. Law enforcement and related activities are never going to be perfect as long as they are performed by human beings.

As a general principle, I don't have an issue with the CPS and other protective agencies erring on the side of being overly-protective under it can assess the situation better.

I had a friend who was accused of child abuse. He and his wife said they has a pretty tense, half-hour discussion with the CPS until the CPS became convinced that the accusations were baseless. The child who said to be victimized was not taken and no further actions came of the situation. When I asked my friend about the situation, he was surprising non-bitter about the whole situation saying that the CPS was just doing their job. It can be hard to make good assessments when people are motivated to misrepresent.